The Delight of Dance...Excerpts from the teachings of Hazrat Inayat Khan
Flowers are the footprints of Thy dancing steps.
Hazrat Inayat Khan, Sayings:
Gayan, Vadan, Nirtan A dancing soul shows its graceful movements in all its activities.
Hazrat Inayat Khan, Volume XI, Psychology
Hazrat Inayat Khan, Volume VIII
One should not forget that rhythm comes from the dancing of the soul. When the soul begins to dance, every word, every expression of a person becomes rhythmic. Rhythm, therefore, must not be forgotten, for rhythm inspires other souls to dance. Hazrat Inayat Khan, Volume X, Sufi Mysticism
Hazrat Inayat Khan,
Volume XIV, The Smiling Forehead Once the soul has awakened, called by beauty, it leaps up dancing. Then its every movement makes a picture, whether in writing, poetry, music or whatever it may be. A dancing soul will always express the most subtle and intricate harmonies in the realm of music or poetry. Hazrat Inayat Khan, Volume X, Sufi Mysticism
Tune and rhythm tend to produce an inclination for dance. To sum up, dancing may be said to be a graceful expression of thought and feeling without uttering a word. It may be used also to impress the Soul by movement, by producing an ideal picture before it. When beauty of movement is taken as the presentment of the divine ideal, then the dance becomes sacred. The music of life shows its melody and harmony in our daily experiences. Every spoken word is either a true or a false note, according to the scale of our ideal. Hazrat Inayat Khan, Volume II, The Mysticism of Sound
Poetry is an art, a music expressed in the beauty and harmony of
words. No doubt much of the poetry one reads is meant either as a pastime
or for amusement; but real poetry comes from the dancing of the soul.
No one can make the soul dance unless the soul itself is inclined to
dance. Also, no soul can dance which is not alive. Hazrat Inayat Khan, Volume X, Sufi Mysticism
The purpose of life is to become more living, to allow the soul to live more, and that is the limit given by Christ when he says, 'Raise your light high'. This means allowing the soul to express itself. It does not matter what your life is, what your pursuit is; in order to fulfill the purpose of life you need not be in a temple or a church. Whatever your life's pursuit - art, poetry, sculpture, music, whatever your occupation may be - you can be as spiritual as a priest or clergyman, always living a life of praise. Your work in life must be your religion; let the soul express itself in every aspect and it will surely fulfill the purpose of life. The soul's life comes naturally if we open ourselves for the spirit to rise. .... Life and love come from God and raise every soul till it dances. Hazrat Inayat Khan, Volume XIV, The Smiling Forehead
Hazrat Inayat Khan, Sayings: Gayan, Vadan, Nirtan
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